SAN ANTONIO — The federal government has settled its lawsuit with Murphy Oil USA Inc., to resolve allegations the company required an employee with a back impairment to perform duties against his medical work restrictions.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Murphy Oil, which operates Murphy USA retail gasoline stores in Wal-Mart parking lots in more than 20 states, denied a 10-year employee disability accommodations and then fired him for complaining to management.
"This employee had been relied upon by the company to manage and train others for years," EEOC San Antonio Field Office senior trial attorney David Rivela said in a statement. "The failure to make adjustments that would take into account the manager's physical impairment resulted in the company's loss of a solid employee. Employers should engage in an effective interactive process and not respond with a termination when an employee requests a reasonable accommodation."
The settlement includes Murphy Oil paying $100,000 to the former employee and the company implementing written polices and training regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).